Facts about Pollution | Effects of Pollution

Pollution is a concern that all of us need to really help out with. We have all contributed to it and now it is time for us to make things right. We can combat the problems but it isn't going to be easy. Yet we can tackle it one segment at a time and make progress or allow the effects of pollution to continue taking control of out health and of the future for all living things.

Humans, animals, our pets, the trees, and plants, and even the ozone have all been suffering due to the effects of pollution. If we don't want to allow global warming to continue affecting us then the time for a change is right now. When the climate is getting warmer it means that habitats out there are suffering.

On one side of it you have those that live in the very cold regions. When the ice that they live on is melting they are struggling to survive. When those that need lots of water are suffering in drought conditions it also limits their chances of survival. With a depleted ozone comes the increased problems with UV rays. They will get hotter and that means we are more likely to suffer from various types of skin cancer due to that exposure.

Health Problems

Our health is one of the things that should be the most precious to us. Your happiness can't be based on social status or money alone. If you don't have good health you won't live as long. It will also limit what you are able to really enjoy out of life. Our bodies are very delicate in spite of all that it goes though.

Health issues that stem from pollution can affect breathing, heart function, and the immune system. It can also harm animals too and that means that they are relying on humans to help clean up the effects of pollution. There are so many people and animals that suffer from respiratory concerns including asthma. This also affects millions of children who will deal with those breathing difficulties for their entire life.

The Earth is a place for animals and for humans to thrive. Yet when there are high levels of pollution in the air, the soil, and in the water then we are all at the mercy of whatever comes along. There are many forms of bacteria and ailments that can bother people and a large portion of them do stem from pollution in the environment.

Food Pollution

The food chain is a very serious issue even though we don't often think about it. When living things eat others that are contaminated with pollution it can make them very sick or even cause their death. This is even true for humans such as the example of lots of mercury being found in various types of seafood .

The gentle balance for the food chain has to remain intact if we are all going to be able to survive. The effects of pollution threaten the survival of many types of life forms. Should they become extinct then it is going to have a downward spiraling effect on so many other living entities out there as well.

We may be at the top of the food chain but that doesn't mean we can't avoid pollution issues. In fact, it means that we should be doing all we can to reduce the effects of pollution on what we consume. If we want to life a long and healthy life then it all starts with what we eat. If it is contaminated then we are doing harm to ourselves in ways that can result in serious health problems and early death.

Even the land animals we eat such as cows, chickens, and pigs can be affected by pollution. When you consume meat from them there can be problems passed along. Many of them can be eliminated by cooking the meat thoroughly but not all the time. We don't want to take chances that there are problems with the food that we consume.

Deforestation

When we destroy the forests to keep up with the demand for wood and so we can built in those areas we are taking valuable oxygen out of the air. This can leave harmful elements including nitrogen and carbon in the air that we taken in. This can allow free radicals to cause us to age faster. They can also destroy our immune system and that is certainly not something you want to allow to go on with your body.

When a woman is pregnant she will often take great steps to ensure her baby is healthy. Yet studies show pollutants in the air, water, soil, and from food can result in miscarriages occurring in the first few months. They can also contribute to babies being born early or with very serious health issues. No parent wants to offer their child this type of life so by working to reduce pollution we can also give future generations the best possible start in life that is possible.

Cancer may be linked to pollution and many experts feel that is why we have so many forms of cancer today. There are still theories about cancer problems but nothing that has shown with concrete evidence how it all starts. One thing that is known is that cancer affects people of all lifestyles, of both genders, and all ages.

One thing that everyone has in common is that they are around various forms of pollution. The amounts of it and the types of it may vary which may account for why some people are very ill in cluster regions. When you start to see many become ill with various problems including cancer all from one location you really do feel that something such as pollution plays a huge role in that problem.

Chemicals: Pollution Problem

Chemicals are used all the time by people that want to grow their garden or have lush green grass. They are used to keep pests and weeds out of crops too. In fact, the amount of chemicals in the air, water, and soil account for a very large portion of the overall pollution problem. Some feel that organic farming is the only way to take care of it. Yet the argument is that it takes five years of no chemicals for an area of land to be considered organic.

The yields are smaller due to the time it takes for planting, maintaining, harvesting, and processing the foods that are organically grown. That could lead to a shortage of food and even higher prices than what people are paying right now. There is no simple answer out there about how pollution should be eliminated in order to get rid of these effects.

What we do know though is that pollution has taken a huge toll on all living things. We have a responsibility to do all we can. Studies and testing can help us to see the value of the efforts in place. We can be part of global efforts but we also need to take part in small efforts at home. For example not using as much fuel or electricity, not using plastic, recycling, and reusing products as often as we are able to.

(Photo author: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez).